The genre of music called bardcore features medieval-style covers of popular music. They are clever and fun, and I love them. So today’s Beautiful Music is the bardcore version of the Earth Wind and Fire song SEPTEMBER. There’s also a link below with an insider’s view of the keyboard part of the song by former […]

17th century musician Christopher Simpson was a virtuoso viola da gamba player and composer for his instrument. His collection THE MONTHS is a set of 12 fantasias for treble viol, 2 bass viols and basso continuo. Today’s Beautiful Music is the SEPTEMBER fantasia by Simpson, played by viol players Aude-Marie Piloz, Naomi Inoué, Anne-Sophie Eiselé,

Do you enjoy Scottish music? This is your lucky day! Today’s Beautiful Music features a group of brilliant musicians playing a charming mini-concert called THE SCOTTISH TRADITION at the 2023 Festival Dans les Jardins de William Christie in France. These performers are in the inner circle of Les Arts Florissants, the French ensemble founded in

There’s a good chance that you’re unfamiliar with an instrument called “cornet à bouquin.” It’s a wind instrument that originated in the early 16th century. It resembles a long, slightly curved recorder, and it is played with a mouthpiece similar to the type used for a brass instrument. Its sound is unique! Today’s Beautiful Music

LASCIA CH’IO PIANGA (Let me Weep) is an aria from George Frideric Handel’s 1711 opera RINALDO. Today’s Beautiful Music is a tender and delicate performance of LASCIA CH’IO PIANGA by two world-class musicians: soprano Ana Vieira Leite and theorbo player Thomas Dunford. They were recorded yesterday on the grounds at Festival Dans les Jardins de

Yesterday’s Beautiful Music post introduced you to the annual Festival Dans les Jardins de William Christie which takes place in Thiré, France on the grounds of the magnificent gardens and home of Les Arts Florissants founder and leader, William Christie. The festival continues throughout this week, and will include the premiere St. Mark Passion, a

In 1979, Buffalo, NY-born musician William Christie founded the period instrument ensemble Les Arts Florissants (LAF), and 13 years ago he founded an annual summer music festival in the tiny, remote French village of Thiré. There are nightly grand performances of baroque operas and sacred compositions by LAF musicians, as well as Juilliard School of

The late Peter Schickele was a composer who is often known better for his alter-ego — PDQ Bach. The fictional composer’s biography included being born on April 1, 1742 — the 21st of Johann’s 20 children, the youngest and oddest of Johann Sebastian’s 20-odd children. But Peter Schickele also had a significant body of work

Yesterday’s Beautiful Music featured a performance by keyboard virtuosa Barbara Harbach. Dr. Harbach is also an extraordinary composer, and today’s Beautiful Music is one of her compositions. SYMPHONY FOR FERGUSON was commissioned by the Missouri Humanities Council and premiered in October 2015. There is an additional link below with more information about the work.  https://www.jwpepper.com/Symphony-No.-10—Symphony-of-Ferguson/11315676.item?srsltid=AfmBOoo3WeI0VtNEBYtl3_WciFMsdQoNUVIE8vTQJltqQoHbxhQ2yCnD